The atmosphere was electric at Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil today as BN told Malaysians that it will dish out more cash if the nation votes them back into power.
In its manifesto launched tonight, BN said the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) welfare aid will be raised from the current RM500 to RM1,200 per family, for households earning less than RM3,000 a month.
A raise was also promised for low-income single individuals, making it RM600 from the present RM250, BN chief Najib Abdul Razak said to roaring applause by 15,000-odd BN supporters at the stadium in Bukit Jalil.
In the event telecast live on state television, Najib said these payments will also not be one-off payments, but be paid out annually.
The 1Malaysia book vouchers (BB1M) will be raised by RM100 to RM300 and aid for schoolchildren raised by RM50 to RM150.
Malaysians could also look forward to car prices being reduced gradually by 20-30 percent and a cut of broadband Internet fee by 20 percent, with guaranteed bandwidth.
The 31-page manifesto also promised to benefit Sabah and Sarawak residents by implementing a one-country one-price policy, while working mothers will benefit from the setting up more 1Malaysia childcare centres, among others.
‘We love BN’The supporters, who arrived in buses from all over peninsular Malaysia as early as six hours before the event started were in very high spirits, singing and dancing to patriotic songs.
While most put the ‘We Love BN’and BN flags in their goodie bags to good use, some blew into the noisy vuvuzelas, making the event seem like a football match or a concert.
So excited were the mostly youth attendees that the secretariat had to threaten to confiscate the vuvuzelas.
“This is a very important event, not a place to blow trumpets,” the crowd was sternly told.
The crowd roared their support when asked by the emcee if BN would take Selangor, Kelantan, Kedah and Penang.
“For those from Gelang Patah, let’s bury (DAP veteran leader) Lim Kit Siang,” the emcee said to loud cheers.
The participants turned hushed as a video honouring the security personnel who fell in Lahad Datu was shown.
But all rose to their feet and broke into an emotive rendition of ‘Inilah Barisan Kita’ as Najib and wife Rosmah Mansor arrived soon after.
Also receiving thunderous applause was former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who attended with his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali.
Salient points of BN manifestoWithin the next five years, BN is committed to:
- Increase BR1M to RM1,200 for families (from RM500) and RM600 for singles (from RM250), to be disbursed yearly
- Increase 1Malaysia book vouchers (BB1M) to RM300 (from 200), and school assistance to RM150 (from RM100)
- Revise National Automotive Policy and gradually reduce car prices by 20-30 percent to improve competitiveness of local cars
- Increase the numbers of Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M)
- Sell 1Malaysia products at petrol station and hypermarkets
- Set up 1Malaysia clinics in high-density residential area
- Set up more 1Malaysia childcare centre for working parents
- Reduce broadband fee by 20 percent with guaranteed bandwidth
- Implement ‘one country, one price’ policy
